Building your foundation

[th3j9]

Hi everyone, I'd like to preface this by saying that I do NOT ever intend on playing piano professionally, and I play purely for my own enjoyment. That being said, I would enjoy eventually being able to play much more demanding pieces. So my question is, what would/did you do to build your base? What exercises(if any) did you do? Would you recommend mastering the scales/arpeggios/chords?

A bit of background, I got up to Level 9 RCM 4 years ago, then dropped piano altogether, and have now gotten back into it a few months ago,to give an idea of where I'm at. I can dedicate 1.5 hrs of practice each day. What would you do in my situation? Any input is much appreciated.

[worov]

I don't praticise exercises. I practise pieces only. All the technique you need is in the pieces.

What exercises(if any) did you do? Would you recommend mastering the scales/arpeggios/chords?

Do you intend to perform these for friends or family ? I certainly wouldn't want to hear these.

A former member said this about his students in a thread :

As far as advanced students go, it is pretty much up to them to choose what they wnat to play next (unless they are fulfilling requirements for an exam or competition). As such I rarely impose anything - although I may share music I enjoy with them. But to my amazement I discovered a few years ago that my musicla taste was far from universal!

Having said that, If I was to suggest a syllabus fo the most important pieces fo the advanced repertory they would comprise only three works. The reason for this choice is that once you master these three works you will be able to master pretty much anything else. unfortunately it may take a life time to master them.

Here they are:

1. the 48 preludes and fugues of the WTC (Bach)[the old testament]
2. the 32 piano Sonatas (Beethoven)[the new testament]
3. the 24 piano etudes (Chopin).[Revelation Wink]

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Here's the thread :

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=2375.0

I certainly agree with Bernhard. WTC, Beethoven sonatas and Chopin studies are certainly a good foundation for musicality and for technique.

[awesom_o]

If the Gospel works of Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin are well outside of your current base, which is highly probable, given your background, then I would advise you to first become familiar with the keyboard.

Learn all major and minor scales well enough that you can play them without looking down at your hands.

Don't focus on developing speed as your primary goal. Instead, try to become comfortable with the extended range of the keyboard, and think of developing the actual flexibility and elasticity of the scales themselves, rather than trying to play them like a midi file or a metronome. Again, do all of this without looking down at the keyboard.

Study the circle of 5ths enough that you are able to play extended cadences (I, IV, I, V, I) in each key, going around the circle of 5ths in order (C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, etc). Do this again, without relying on looking down at the keyboard.

Once you can do these things with fluency, you should be ready for just about anything!

[quantum]

I don't praticise exercises. I practise pieces only. All the technique you need is in the pieces.

A very wise course of action.


IMO, exercises are for short term use.  You play exercises to solve specific technical problems.  If you don't have a specific technical problem you need to solve, don't waste time playing exercises. 

When you want to build technique, select repertoire that employs that technique.  Playing this repertoire will allow you to grow both your technical and musical skill set.